Exploring Immortality Cultivation

Wang Qi and Chen Feng came out, Du Bin was waiting at the gate. Seeing Wang Qi, he warmly greeted him, "Brother Wang, congratulations on your escape."

"Nowhere near, I have you to thank for that."

Wang Qi, having decided to use Du Bin and genuinely indebted to him for his swift release, politely exchanged greetings.

Chen Feng was startled. Yangshen Pavilion deeply studied the soul, and even without using telepathy or similar techniques, he could read the emotional tendencies of those around him. In his eyes, Wang Qi and Du Bin seemed like a greedy snake and a well-intentioned fox locked in confrontation.

However, Wang Qi was his friend, and Du Bin was merely one of the Divine Capital Nobles, considered an intractable rotten wood; it was obvious whom Chen Feng would support. He thought to himself that he would simply need to give Wang Qi some advice when they returned.

Unexpectedly, Du Bin also struck up a conversation with Chen Feng, "This must be Brother Chen, the acclaimed true inheritor of Yangshen Pavilion? Truly a paragon of virtue! I'm Du Bin, I've long admired your name."

"Uh-huh." Chen Feng could sense the insincerity in the other's heart and responded nonchalantly.

Sensing Chen Feng's reluctance to engage, Du Bin tactfully withdrew. He knew from the start that someone of Chen Feng's mentality would disdain interacting with descendants of the Ancient Method, so he had already sent his troublemaking younger brother back and faced the two Immortal Sect inheritors alone, saving the trouble his reckless sibling might cause.

Being a True Inheritor was a target worth befriending… especially Wang Qi.

For he was a Banished Immortal.

Remembering the legends about Banished Immortals his elders had shared, Du Bin felt a surge of excitement, and his demeanor towards Wang Qi became even more enthusiastic.

At that moment, Wang Qi was still angrily complaining, "I just don't understand why the Immortal Alliance even allows things like the Piaoyun Chen Clan to continue existing—they don't even abide by the Immortal Alliance Law!"

Wang Qi addressed these words to Chen Feng, who wasn't very inclined to respond. Du Bin carefully chose his words, then said, "Brother Wang, are you familiar with the historical anecdote of the 'Palace Gate Ritual'?"

Wang Qi thought for a moment. Then he recalled that it was similar to the story of "Shang Yang's wooden post at the city gate."

In the Middle Ages, Immortal Dao existed in the form of various schools and philosophies. The Legalist School of Shenzhou, to establish credibility, once placed a cauldron at their academy's gate, proclaiming that anyone who could lift it without using spells would receive a high-quality elixir. This cauldron sat outside the academy for hundreds of years until the Legalist School's reputation for reliability was widely acknowledged and it was finally removed.

Du Bin gestured towards himself and towards the nearby Divine Capital, "I, along with all the descendants of the Ancient Method in Divine Capital, are that cauldron placed by the Immortal Alliance."

"The Immortal Alliance desires an era of peace, for only in such times do Seekers arise. An era of peace cannot exist without law; that's why the Immortal Alliance devised the Immortal Alliance Law. And laws must stand on credibility; thus, the Immortal Alliance needs a symbol of 'cauldron' to represent its integrity." Du Bin explained, "We are that cauldron."

Wang Qi was thoughtful, "So that's it… It's well-known that the Modern Immortal Path can't coexist with the Ancient Method, and yet Divine Capital is filled with descendants of the Ancient Method. If the Immortal Alliance upholds the contracts with their ancestors, what contracts wouldn't it uphold?"

"The most crucial contract within the Immortal Sects is the so-called Merit System, a system that can wholeheartedly motivate all of Shenzhou to dedicate themselves. But such a system cannot stand without credibility," Du Bin said, "That's why the Immortal Alliance needs credibility."

The Immortal Alliance is the leader of Immortal Dao, but it is not a nation. Silver Coins hold little value for cultivators, and cultivators often eat not to satisfy hunger but to alleviate the sensation of an empty stomach and to enjoy the taste. Thus, the economic system of cultivators is distinct from that of mortals. The Immortal Alliance doesn't possess the governmental function of taxing its members to maintain social order or the inherent public credibility that mortal authorities have from their people. To build a highly organized Immortal Dao civilization, the Immortal Alliance needs substantial public credibility.

"Cough, cough." Perhaps it was because Du Bin's choice of words was not quite appropriate, or perhaps it was the surprise at the other party's insight, Chen Feng cleared his throat and joined the conversation, "You do see things clearly."

Du Bin hastily bowed, "It's precisely because the younger brother knows his own place that he detests those clans like the Piaoyun Chen Clan more than you both."

Wang Qi raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was an attempt to pick sides and show loyalty.

Du Bin said, "The glory and wealth of us Divine Capital Nobles are actually rewards from the Immortal Alliance—for the Immortal Alliance, this is just the cost of casting and maintaining a cauldron. But once this cauldron is no longer needed, when it becomes a far greater burden than benefit to the Immortal Alliance, it will be removed. Just like that decree back then, after everyone in the world knew that the Legalist School valued trust, that decree became a bottomless pit consuming elixirs."

"That is to say, if the Divine Capital Nobles cause too much trouble and make the Immortal Alliance feel that this cancer is affecting the order of Shenzhou, and the degree of this impact is far deeper than the trust it establishes, then what awaits us might just be a purge."

Chen Feng looked at him appreciatively, "You are quite insightful."

"The younger brother isn't foolish. He knows that in today's Shenzhou, only those who follow the rules can survive."

It seemed this fellow really had some ability, managing to impress Chen Feng in just a few sentences. Wang Qi couldn't help but use his Spiritual Sense to ask Zhen Chan, "What do you think?"

"Except for the last sentence." Zhen Chan, as incisive as ever, said, "If he were truly obedient, he wouldn't have deliberately come out to befriend a Banished Immortal. Probably Chen Feng also sees his ill intentions, so he limited the conversation to just a few exchanges."

Heh heh, the spells of Yangshen Pavilion are truly domineering, unmatched even by the world's psychological attacks and persuasions.

Wang Qi looked towards the Divine Capital again, this time with different feelings.

This is a cauldron.

For the Immortal Alliance, the city of Divine Capital, inhabited by countless cultivators, was merely a cauldron used to showcase its credit. The reason why the Immortal Alliance did not eliminate these noble families with remnants of the Ancient Method ways was simply because, in the eyes of the Immortal Alliance, the actions of these nobles were utterly insignificant.

What a colossal entity the Immortal Alliance was.

Meanwhile, Wang Qi once again felt fortunate that when he transmigrated, it was during the era of the Immortal Alliance's rule.

For a scientist, a stable environment is more conducive to research. The Immortal Alliance places such emphasis on public trust precisely because it intends to create a grand era!

After a heavy silence, Du Bin and Wang Qi went their separate ways. Before bidding farewell to Wang Qi, Chen Feng specifically instructed, "Wang Qi, don't stir up any trouble these days. Tomorrow I'll be busy too, so just come and work conscientiously."

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Again, seeking recommendation votes!